For National Meadows Day this year, we thought we should highlight this often overlooked but very important habitat!
Meadows and unimproved grasslands are one of the rarest habitats in the UK, and internationally have suffered serious losses over the past 100 years. The reason for this is that grassland is often seen as suitable for agriculture.
In small numbers, livestock grazing on grasslands can be beneficial, to help control the highly competitive (but very tasty!) grasses and allow other plants to grow. These other plants create a diverse tapestry for pollinators, which in turn feed a variety of species, from amphibians and fish to birds and mammals.
However, overgrazing not only removes more plants and churns up the ground more, but it also increases the nutrients in the soil, as more livestock produces more poo! This helps feed the grasses but many of the specialist grassland plants do not like nutrient rich soil, and so will disappear over time.
Meadows and grasslands provide a home for small mammals and birds, which attract predators such as Kestrels and Barn Owls.
Grasslands should have a variety of species throughout the season, and during the summer months they should be a mosaic of different coloured and scented flowers, each trying to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and beetles.
Here are some top tips for anyone wanting to grow your own meadow:
Choose native wildflowers - Check out Plantlife for suitable species.
Choose a variety of colours, scents and flowering seasons - the longer the flowering season, the better!
If you have lots of grass, sow Yellow Rattle - this pretty yellow flower will parasitize the grass, allowing other wildflowers to come through.
Grass does need to be cut. Cut your meadow at different heights to create tall, medium and short vegetation areas for different wildlife. Avoid cutting in May if you can, as this is when most pollinators emerge.
When you do cut your meadow, leave the cuttings for a day or two to help scatter any seeds. But don’t leave the cuttings to rot down, as this will add too many nutrients to the soil.
We would like to extend our grateful thanks to the following local companies who have supplied us with a selection of wildlife friendly seeds to use for our educational activities.
